Fatehpur Sikri (Hindi: फतेहपूर सिकरी) served as the political capital of the Mughal Empire under Akbar's reign, from 1571 until 1585, when it was abandoned ostensibly due to lack of water. It is regarded as the emperor's crowning architectural legacy. Indeed, there are numerous palaces, halls, and masjids to satisfy his creative and aesthetic impulses typical of Mughals. Innovations in land revenue, coinage, military organisation, and provincial administration emerged during the Fatehpur Sikri years.

History

Fatehpur Sikri shared its imperial duties as a capital city with Agra, where a bulk of the arsenal, treasure hoards, and other reserves were kept at its Red Fort for security. During times of crisis, the court, harem, and treasury could be removed to Agra, located 26 miles away, less than a day's march.

Design

The layout of the city shows a conscious attempt at

Important Buildlings

The buildings of Fatehpur Sikri show a synthesis of various regional schools of architectural craftsmanship such as Gujarati and Bengali. This was because indigenous craftsman from various regions were used for the construction of the buildings. Influences from Hindu and Jaina architecture are seen hand in hand with Islamic elements. The building material predominantly used is red sandstone, quarried from the same rocky outcrop on which it is situated.

There are both religious and secular buildings in the city.

Some of the important buildings in this city are

• Naubat Khana – Drum house: near the entry,
  
  
  
  where important arrivals are announced.
• Diwan-i-Am – Hall of Public Audience: a building typology found in many Mughal cities where the ruler meets the general public. In this case it is a pavilion like multi-bayed rectangular structure fronting a large open space.
• Diwan-i-Khas – Hall of Private Audience: famous for its central pillar with thirty-six voluted brackets supporting a circular platform for Akbar.
• Raja Birbal's house: the house of his favourite minister who was a Hindu. Notable features of the building are the horizontal sloping sunshades or chajjas and the brackets which support them.
• Joda Bai's palace: the palace of his favourite queen, a Hindu from Gujarat. The building shows Gujarati influence and is built around a courtyard, with special care being taken to ensure privacy.
• Pachisi Court: a square marked out as a large sized board game (modern day Ludo) where live coins- people- participated.
• Char Chaman Tank: a tank with a central platform and four bridges leading up to it.
• Panch Mahal: A five-storied structure.
• Buland Darwaza – or the Gate of Magnificence: one of the gateways to the Jami masjid, a stupendous piece of architecture from the outside, gradually making a transition to a human scale in the inside.
• Jama Masjid: the mosque, built in the manner of Indian mosques, with aisles or liwans around a central courtyard. A distinguishing feature is the row of chattris (small domed pavilions) over the sanctuary.
• Tomb of Salim Chisti: a white marble encased tomb within the mosque courtyard.

Fatehpur Sikri is a World Heritage Site. Some contemporary Indian architects, notably B. V. Doshi, have cited it as an important source of inspiration. Architect or layperson, this city never fails to capture the imagination and wonder of those who have experienced its urban spaces and seen its buildings.

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